How to treat your child's fever

Giving your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen: What you need to know

Important Information

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are over-the-counter medicines that relieve pain and reduce fever. Ibuprofen relieves swelling but acetaminophen does not.

To get an accurate temperature reading for newborns to one-year-olds, use only a rectal thermometer. Follow package directions.

Your health care provider recommends treating a fever in a child younger than one year old only if he or she has a fever higher than 102 F by rectum. You should not give any form of fever-reducing or pain medicine to a child younger than one year old if you do not know his or her
rectal temperature.

It is important to follow your health care provider's instructions and/or the directions on the package label. Ask your health care provider if you are unsure about giving your child medicine to reduce a fever.